Shortage of SBA Language, Literature choices fires teenager to produce book of poems

by Eldonté Samuel

Nineteen-year-old Aphia Blugh, hopes that a book of poems she has produced will be used as part of the School-Based Assessment (SBA) for English Language and Literature. As a passionate poet, she recalls that during her time in forms four and five at Bishops College Kingstown, she and her classmates faced challenges in finding suitable articles, poems, and news pieces for their projects.

For their SBA, students choose a topic, often related to social or economic issues, and then need to find materials that support their topic. These materials are essential because students analyse them and include them in their assessments.

“I think the problem was…the topics that most students chose- a lot of people don’t write poems or articles on them. [This] gave me the willpower to write about the poems that persons don’t talk about, or topics that aren’t brought about in poetry,” the Cadet Sergeant related.

Blugh wants to use her voice to shine a light on important stories from St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), sharing the experiences of people who are often too afraid to speak out.

Her book, ‘Altering The Past,’ features a collection of poems and stories that she has written over the years, from her time in secondary school to college. She believes this collection reflects her journey and growth as a writer.
“There’s a separation between the poems from back then and previously. I think the more recent poems are more in-depth in emotions and share different perspectives,” Blugh told SEARCHLIGHT.

Blugh completed her book this year, but is still searching for a publisher to help distribute it for others to read. For now, her book can be found on Wattpad, a popular reading app among secondary school and college students.

Blugh expressed her admiration for former teacher, Janielle Browne, a local poet and writer, who “motivated me as an individual to continue writing. She gave me the push that I needed to continue writing”.

The young poet said she understands that everyone has their own unique preferences when it comes to the art of written pieces. She, however is urging those who dream of being a writer or poet to take a chance and pursue their passion.
“If you decide not to do it, then you don’t know what outcome you will have, but if you do it and you fail, you know what to do again to make it better.”

‘I Am A Girl NGO’ is a non-profit organization in Barbados dedicated to empowering women, and they were among the first to recognise Blugh’s work. She also had the opportunity to speak on behalf of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet Force, the National Lotteries Authority, and during the scholarship distribution ceremony of the General Employees Cooperative Credit Union ( GECCU).

While studying for her Associate degree in Paralegal Studies at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) Blugh wrote a poem titled ‘Cheers to Life’ for her Law Society, which was set up by her lecturer and lawyer, Adrian Odle.

Blugh has expressed a strong interest in the field of law, with aspirations to become a Senior Prosecutor; she also has an interest in being part of the police force band.

“I just love music. I love the whole aesthetic that they have, and because I am also in the Cadet band, I think it would be a very seamless transition into the Police band.”

Blugh served as the acting drum major during the Independence night parade on October 27, 2024, and at that time, she held the position of acting Staff Sergeant.